by Janet Dailey
“He’s been hurt,” she protested, but Colter’s hands were pulling the child away in spite of his efforts to cling to Natalie and hers to keep him there.
Ignoring Ricky’s suddenly increasing cries, Colter carried him to the patiently standing bay and sat him in the saddle, picking up the loose reins and handing them to Ricky.
“Nonnie!” Ricky wailed, clutching the saddle horn tightly and ignoring the reins Colter was placing in his hands.
Natalie tried to rescue him, but Colter’s arm swept her away. “You cruel, horrible beast! Can’t you see he’s hurt?”
Sharp spears of blue steel turned threateningly to the crying boy. “Are you hurt, Ricky?” Colter demanded, and received a tiny nod that he was. “Where are you hurt?” When Ricky failed to answer, Colter taunted, “You’re afraid, aren’t you?” Ricky’s cries had reduced to gasping sobs as he stared wide-eyed at Colter’s accusing face.
“Of course he’s frightened,” Natalie defended. “That’s a long way for a little boy to fall.”
“He’s going to fall off again if he doesn’t take those reins,” Colter stated grimly, looping them around the horse’s neck within Ricky’s reach.
Before Natalie could guess what Colter planned, he slapped the horse on the rump, sending it trotting away. Her heart jumped into her throat. There was a terrified look on Ricky’s face as he started to slide from the saddle again. Immediately the docile bay slowed to a shuffling walk and Ricky pulled himself upright in the saddle.
“Now pick up those reins,” Colter commanded. Without any directing hands on the reins, the bay stopped. Ricky’s hands were frozen on the saddle horn. “Pick them up or I’ll hit the horse again.”
“Colter, for God’s sake!” Travis exclaimed angrily.
Colter ignored the protest as he took a threatening step towards the horse. Ricky immediately took the reins in his hand, still shaking and wide-eyed, but the sobbing had stopped.
“Walk the horse around the corral.” The harshness was gone from Colter’s voice, but the firmness remained. After a hesitant glance at Natalie, Ricky obeyed. At a walk and a trot, Colter made him circle the corral several times. “Now, canter Joe around the corral once,” he ordered.
Natalie’s mouth opened in instant, outraged protest, only to close in disbelief when she heard Ricky speak. “His name is Lightning.” And it was Lightning he nudged into a canter.
“I did a good job, didn’t I?” Ricky smiled from ear to ear as he stopped the horse in front of Colter.
“Yes, you did,” he agreed, lifting Ricky out of the saddle onto the ground. Natalie started to step forward, but Colter was already instructing Ricky to cool the bay. Then he turned to Missy. “Do you see how it’s done?”
The young girl immediately buried her chin in her chest at his question, her thin face pale and drawn. Without a glance at either Travis or Natalie, Colter walked to his daughter and swung her slender length into his arms. There was mute appeal in the clouded blue gaze Missy directed at her father’s impassive expression.
But Colter stepped through the corral gate and to Natalie’s sorrel horse tied to an outside post. He set Missy in the saddle, untied the reins and climbed up behind her. His arms protectively circled her as he walked the horse away from the corral in the direction of the open meadow beyond the stand of trees.
It was two hours later that Missy came rushing into the house, her face flushed and excited, her eyes sparkling with pride. Her words ran into each other in her hurry to tell Natalie and Ricky of her accomplishment in conquering her fear of riding.
“Daddy said I wasn’t to be ashamed that I was afraid. He said being afraid of horses was like being afraid of the dark and I had to learn there was nothing that would intentionally harm me. He rode with me for a long way just talking and making me relax and remember how much fun I used to have riding. Then he got off and I rode by myself for a while. And Daddy said I was almost as good as I used to be, and with practice, I would get better.”
Natalie’s smile was mixed with astonishment at the animation on the young girl’s face. She couldn’t ever remember Missy being so confident or talkative. And she wasn’t finished yet.
“We talked about a lot of other things on the way back,” Missy continued. “Daddy said I wasn’t a little girl any more, that I was becoming a young lady and maybe it was time I stopped wearing my hair in braids. Do you think I should get it cut, Natalie?”
“I can make an appointment with the hair-dresser and we’ll see what he suggests, but I think you would look very pretty with short hair,” Natalie suggested.
“Oh, do you think so? I told Daddy I was skinny and plain, but he said I was probably one of those girls that would bloom late in my teens and just knock everyone off their feet. Can you imagine that?” Missy breathed. “Shall I change into a dress for dinner? Daddy said I would look good in blue because it matches my eyes.”
“I think that would be a good idea.”
“Come with me, Ricky,” who hadn’t been able to get a word in edgewise. “And you can help me brush my hair.”
As she watched the two of them dash from the dining room, Natalie decided it was amazing what a man’s attention could do for a girl. She had always sensed that Colter could be overwhelmingly charming if he chose to be. In the face of Missy’s transformation, it was difficult to keep nurturing her anger over the harshly callous way he had treated Ricky, particularly as it had proved correct.
TEN
COLTER DIDN’T come to the house until it was exactly mealtime, his face a smooth mask that seemed to belie Missy’s account of their afternoon ride. He pulled out the chair at the head of the dining room table and sat down.
“Aren’t we going to wait for Travis?” Natalie asked.
“He won’t be eating here.” The answer was clipped out with no explanation.
Natalie could only guess that Travis had made other plans rather than observe her with Colter, knowing the way she felt. She ladled the soup into the bowls.
“How is Cord?”
“He responded lucidly to the doctors today. They don’t have any more reservations about his recovery.” Again that impersonal tone marked his words.
Apart from Natalie’s expression of relief at that news, Colter’s statement brought an end to the conversation. Without Travis’s participation in the routine of after-dinner coffee and with the children excused from the table, Natalie found the continued silence scraping at her nerves.
“Are you going to the hospital tomorrow?” she inquired stiffly, taking a sip of the coffee that was still too hot to drink.
“No, I’ll be needed at the ranch now.” One arm was draped over the back of his chair as Colter stared with brooding thoughtfulness at his china cup.
Natalie glanced at him quizzically. There had seemed to be a hidden meaning in his reply. His impassive gaze caught her look and the line of his mouth hardened.
“You might as well know,” he said with cold arrogance, “I’ve fired Travis.” He glanced at his wristwatch. “He should be packed and gone by now.”
“You fired him?” she repeated incredulously. “But why? What did he do?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Surely he’ll stop to say goodbye to Missy and Ricky,” Natalie persisted, unable to understand Travis’s abrupt dismissal.
“Don’t you want to say goodbye to him?” Colter mocked harshly.
“O-of course,” she stammered. “Travis has — has been very kind to me.” The sound of disgust that Colter made roused her anger. “And a gentleman,” she added sharply, “regardless of what you think!”
“He’s a man,” he jeered softly. “I can’t believe that there weren’t a few stolen kisses.”
Uncontrollably Natalie flushed, remembering the innocent kiss she and Travis had exchanged the morning after the crash. Colter would never regard it as innocent.
“Where is Travis going?” she asked instead, striving for composure. “Did he say what he was
going to do?”
“Isn’t it strange?” Colter chuckled without humour. “You’re more upset by his leaving than he is. When I told him he was through, he seemed relieved. I had the feeling contingency plans had been made between you.”
“What do you mean?” Her voice was unsteady, sickened by his implications.
“I hope you aren’t thinking of running away with him. I can make life very miserable for you.”
Hurt anger trembled violently through her. “More miserable than it is now?” Natalie taunted. “I think that’s impossible!”
The muscles along his jaw leaped savagely. “We made an agreement and you’re going to keep it!”
“And how are you going to make me do that?” she challenged. “Lock me in every night? Post a guard at the door whenever you’re gone? I’m not your slave, Colter Langston! I’m not chained to you!”
Her hands were on the tabletop next to her cup, clenched into impotent fists. With a lightning move, his fingers closed over one of her wrists with punishing fury as he leaned threateningly towards her.
“You will do as I say and like it!” he growled.
Her reaction to his imperious arrogance was instantaneous. Her free hand gripped the coffee cup and threw the scalding liquid into his face. Frightened by the cry of pain, Natalie bounded to her feet and raced to the front door, hearing the crash of china and chairs as the partially blinded Colter began his pursuit.
Through the door and into the moonless night, she ran. Fear for her own safety was replaced by prayer that she had not injured Colter. Yet she couldn’t go back and endure any more of his insults. His cruel insistence that her wishes and feelings were of supreme indifference to him wounded her more than the falseness of his accusations.
Madly racing for the concealment of the oak trees, Natalie reached them as the front door slammed behind Colter. The black trees hid her from his sight, but the darkness also worked against her. She stumbled over tree roots, was slapped in the face by low-hanging branches, and only the light from the barns glittering through the leaves kept her going in the same direction. As she burst into the open, she heard Colter crashing through the trees.
Her feet were not directed to any particular destination. Her only aim was to escape, momentarily anyway, Colter’s retribution. The yard light flickered over a large metallic object. As Natalie drew nearer to it, she recognised its shape as a pickup. Then a dark shape separated itself from the truck, rushing out to meet her. For a screaming second, she thought it was Colter.
“Natalie?” Travis’s low voice was mixed with surprise and concern.
With a gasping sob for breath, she threw herself into his arms, clinging to the broad chest with what little energy remained. Holding her close, Travis brushed the tangled hair from her face.
“What’s wrong? What has he done to you?” he demanded grimly.
“Nothing. Everything,” she whispered wildly. “He told me —”
“Take your hands off my wife, McCrea!” Colter’s harsh voice sliced off the rest of Natalie’s explanation.
“I don’t work for you any more, Colter,” was Travis’s low reply. “I don’t take orders.”
As Colter walked closer, Travis set Natalie to the side and stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body.
“To get to her, you’re going to have to go through me,” Travis said, in that same soft undertone that sent shivers of fear racing down Natalie’s spine.
“Don’t threaten me, McCrea,” Colter warned. “I’ve whipped bigger and stronger men than you.”
“You’re going to have to do it again. I’ve stood by and watched long enough while you walked on Natalie with your muddy boots. I’m not going to keep silent any more.”
“Travis, please!” Natalie clutched at his elbow to restrain him, the muscles flexed and ready in his arm.
“Keep silent?” Colter’s lips curled into a jeer. “Were you silent when you held her in your arms and kissed her?”
The tall, dark-haired man took a threatening step forward. Natalie eluded the arm that tried to keep her behind him and raced in front of Travis, spreading her fingers on his broad chest to stop him.
“Stop it! Both of you!” she cried in desperate anger. A hasty glance at the forbidding faces of the two men told her that her pleas had fallen on deaf ears.
“If Natalie wouldn’t end up hating me,” Travis went on, “I’d kill you for that remark.”
“Are you trying to deny it?” Colter laughed harshly. “Natalie’s already admitted you’ve kissed her.”
“He kissed me, yes! Once!” Natalie admitted shrilly, trying to stop the fight that neither man could win. “But not the way you think!” Beneath her hand, she felt the sudden stillness take hold of Travis.
“Why should it matter to you, Colter, that another man finds your wife desirable?” There was an odd watchfulness about his brown eyes as Travis studied the man challenging him. “It never bothered you when men made a play for your first wife. Not even when they succeeded. Why does it concern you that I want Natalie? Or is it that you’re afraid that she wants me?”
“She’s staying with me,” was the snarling reply. As Colter took a menacing step closer, the light illuminated his face, revealing the murderous thrust of his rapier gaze. “All the plans you’ve made to run away together might as well be cancelled, because there’s no place you can go that I won’t find you!”
“What’s one woman more or less to you?” Travis taunted.
“Get out of the way, Natalie,” Colter ordered in an ominously soft voice.
“No.” She refused weakly at first, then gathering strength, “No!” Travis made no attempt to stop her as she raced to Colter, digging her fingers into the iron bands of his arms. “I won’t let you fight!”
With a casual, shrugging movement, Colter broke free of her grip. The harsh glitter of his eyes swept her face as he took her by the shoulders, mocking her puny attempt to stop him.
“It won’t do you any good to try to protect him,” Colter told her coldly.
“You crazy, blind fool!” Travis laughed bitterly. “It’s not me she’s protecting. It’s you!”
A sound of disgust came from Colter as he flicked his gaze from Natalie’s pleading eyes to challenge Travis. “You don’t expect me to believe that, do you?”
“You’ve finally joined the rest of us mortals, haven’t you, Colter?” A heavy sigh broke from the other man’s lips as the tension of battle left his muscles. “You’ve left your mountain lair and now you know what it’s like to love someone until it feels like your guts are being torn out.”
Natalie gasped sharply at Travis’s sardonic declaration, unable to believe there was any truth in it. The hands gripping her shoulders increased their vicelike hold. Her doubting gaze swung to Colter’s face. Unearthly pain flickered across the usually impassive and hard features as he stared beyond her at Travis.
“Is it true?” she whispered. Her hands touched his waist, her body swaying closer despite the punishing grip of his fingers. “Oh, Colter, please? Is it true? Do you love me?”
The mask was gone. With aching hunger, his gaze swept her upturned face before he crushed her against his chest, holding her so tightly that she couldn’t breathe. His chin and cheek rubbed the top and side of her hair, a rough, feline caress from a mountain cougar.
“Yes,” Colter groaned. “Yes, I love you, Natalie.”
Quivering sobs of utter happiness shook her frame, tears of joy streamed from her eyes. She hadn’t believed it was possible. Drowning in the overflowing cup of her love, she was too choked to speak, savouring the punishing glory of his arms.
In the flicker of an eye, he was shoving her violently aside, striding from her into the shadow of the trees without a backward glance. Stunned by his unexpected action, Natalie could only stare after him for a paralysed moment.
“I never thought anyone could reach him.” She pivoted sharply towards Travis’s quiet voice, having forgotten he was there. “
Without you he’ll die, Natalie,” he murmured.
There was pain in the brown eyes that looked at her. “And you,” she asked softly, compassion forcing her own happiness back for a moment, “what will you do?”
“I’ll live,” he smiled wryly. “I only looked on you from afar. I won’t have those memories of holding you in my arms in the middle of the night.”
“You don’t have to leave,” she whispered.
“Yes, I do. You know that.” Travis breathed in deeply, seeming to shrug off the pain. “I’ve saved some money. I think I’ll get a place of my own.”
“I wish you all the happiness in the world.”
He turned towards the pickup. “Colter left so he wouldn’t stand in the way of what you wanted. He’s never before placed anyone’s desires above his own. Don’t torture him any longer, Natalie.”
Her feet began moving backwards. “Goodbye, Travis,” she offered huskily before she turned and raced to the house.
But the impetus of her love made it feel more like floating. Flinging open the front door, she paused on the threshold, halted by the stark pain in Colter’s eyes as he stood in the hallway.
“I knew you wouldn’t leave without Ricky,” he muttered, turning his head from her. “May God give me the strength to let you go again.”
There was the sound of the pickup motor grinding to life and the crunch of wheels on the drive before it sped by the house.
“Travis is leaving,” Natalie said softly. “I’m not going with him and I’m not going to meet him. I never planned to.”
“What do you take me for? Some kind of blind fool?” Colter exploded. A savage fury broke around her as he swung a blazing look to her face. “I came down that morning to have the breakfast I thought you were so lovingly preparing. I heard you tell Travis that you loved him and all the money in the world didn’t matter to you! I saw the look in your eyes, all soft and warm, before he kissed you.”
“Oh, Colter, no!” She ran to him, her hands touching the muscles of his chest stiff with rage. “I was telling Travis that I loved you! Whatever I said about money was to let him know that I didn’t care if you were rich or poor. He asked if he could kiss the bride.”